I will admit teachers pay sucks, I am an Elementary Special Education Teacher for Moore Schools and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE what I do they pay is not great. BUT on the other hand, if your heart is in it for the right reasons for the CHILDREN then the pay is secondary to the work we have to put into it. The most important thing is that you have to understand you are not doing it for the money and budget accordingly.
I myself can honestly say that if I was to win the lottery and have tons, and tons of money I would still chose to do what I do. Because I feel called to do it, not because I have to. It makes me sick to hear these horrible teachers smearing my profession and the people who put thier entire heart into it everyday!
Iv had a couple teachers just like you. The thing is that they are usually better at teaching too!